Oklahoma linebacker Dominique Alexander has changed his number from 42 to 1 according to Soonersports.com.

The reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year ranked second on the OU defense last year with 80 tackles, and despite lowering his number, he expects to raise his game to new heights in 2014.

"Just seeing how hard I worked this offseason, [I'd like to see] those things translate to the field and see myself become a better player," Alexander said after a spring practice session.

Bob Stoops said he constantly receives requests for single digit jerseys.

"It is a work in progress all the time, massaging those numbers," the Sooner head coach said. "When you have 85 scholarship guys who all want a single digit, it's kind of hard. Heck, even [Charles] Tapper and Jordan Phillips came up requesting a single digit and I said that wasn't going to work."

Stoops decided that Alexander's play made him worthy of a number upgrade. However, Alexander is not the only defender that has impressed Stoops so far this spring.

"The whole d-line looks awesome," he said. "Heck, all those guys. Linebackers are more sure of themselves in what they're doing. [Quentin] Hayes, Julian Wilson in the secondary are doing a great job, so it's been good."

Safeties Hatari Byrd and Ahmad Thomas have impressed Stoops as well. They are the leading candidates to replace the departed Gabe Lynn.

"They've shown the experience of all last year. They're better," Stoops said of Byrd and Thomas. "They understand what they're doing more and more. They're where they need to be and they're playing well, as are the corners…All the corners got a tight battle going."

Of note: Bob Stoops welcomed the football staff from the University of Kentucky to Norman. Bob's brother Mark is the head coach of the Wildcats. The UK staff will play a part in OU's spring football camp.